Pipe-line reclaimer



Oct. 31, 1950 s. R. KNAPP PIPE-LINE RECLAIMER 2 Sheets-Sheet 3r Filed March 28, 1947 l lm INVENTOR.

5; Pl KTLE BY a ATTORN EYS.

Oct, 31, 1950 s. R. KNAPP 5 9 PIPE-LINE RECLAIMER Filed. March 28, L947 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 INVENTOR.

5 El, KTLEL ATTORN EYS.

Patented Oct. 31, 1950 PIPE -LIN E RECLAIMER Seth R. Knapp, Abbeville, La. Application March 28, 1947, Serial No. 737,969

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in pipe line excavating and reclaiming apparatus designed for raising pipe line buried below the ground surface, with or without the aid of a ditching machine in order that the line may be.

inspected, repaired, and/or replaced in the ground.

The practice heretofore has been to dig a ditch directly over the buried line to a safe level near the top of the line, pry the pipe upwardly at an angle so as to loosen it from the solid impacted earth above and around the line forming the bottom of the ditch, lift the loosened pipe to the top of and to one side of the ditch, and then backfill the ditch. In thus prying the pipe loose through the solid impacted earth the limit of flexibility of the pipeand of its joints is often exceeded, due to the sharp angle at which the pipe is bent and the amount'of force needed to force the pipe through the solid earth, with the result-that the pipe is damaged at the joints or couplings and/or bent and flattened at the bottom and must be replacedat considerable expense because it is beyond repair.

An important object of the present invention is to-provideapparatus of the type indicated and a method of procedure which substantially reduce or eliminate the above mentioned defects of prior apparatus and procedure, by employment of means which loosens the impacted earth at each side and :above the" pipe line and then elevates the pipeline through the loosened earth in a gradual rise such that the pipe is not bent to the limit of its normal flexibility and is therefore not subjected to stresses and strains which damage the pipe and its couplings; and the usually separately performed operation of backfilling the ditch being performed in accordance with the present invention concurrently with the removal of the pipeline by a component of the apparatus by means of which the earth forced to either side of the ditch as the pipe is raised to ground level is re-deposited in the ditch as the apparatus is drawn forwardly. The apparat-us of:-the present invention can be used behind a ditching machine in pipe line reconditioning, forelevating the pipe from the ditch to the surfacegof the ground for reconditioning, following which theiipipecan be lowered into the same ditch. 1 a

In the cases of certain prior apparatus of the type herein involved, the wedging action of the forward, shoe against the pipe pushes the pipe by mainforce. upwardly through solid impacted;

earthat least :fOr a distance equal to the thiclz 2 ness or the height of the incline of the shoe, thereby subjecting the bottom of the pipe to severe strain, which as indicated hereinabove, often causes overbending of the pipe and flattening of its bottom. Further, the forward shoe of such prior apparatus in being bevelled sulficiently so that it would pass under couplings on the pipe, causes the forward shoe to have a marked tendency to run too deep into the earth beneath the pipe, while the blades or runners exert an upward or inclined pull in the opposite direction, thereby greatly adding to the power required to push the pipe line through solid earth by main force, the power required to overcome the resistance of i the shoe to forward movement.

It is accordingly another important object of the present invention to provide for greatly reducing the tractive power requirements of ap-.- paratus of this. general character, by providingfor the loosening of the otherwise solid impacted earth above andv at both sides of the pipe for a considerable distance in advance of and before the shoe is passed under the pipe for raising it, in such a way that the earth is loosened above and around a substantial length of the pipe before the pipe is pushed upwardly; and by proweeds and vegetation in the pathof the apparatus, provision for maintaining the components of the apparatus in operative relation to the pipe line even when the tractor is not moved accurately and evenly over the pipeline and for avoiding damage to the pipe line and to the apparatus when pulled at an angle to the lay o the pipeline.

Other important objects and advantageous features of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein, merely for purposes of illustration, a presently preferred embodiment is set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a general right hand side elevation of said embodiment, omitting the drag shown in Figure '7.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the forward excavator shoe.

Figures 5 and 6 are transverse vertical sections taken on the lines 5-5 and 6-6, respectively, of Figure 1.

Figure '7 is a side elevation of the drag.

Figure 8 is a top plan view thereof, and

Figure 9 is a front end elevation thereof.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the illus trated apparatus according to this invention combines in a single string the excavator IE3, the elevator H, and the drag l2 for performing in concurrent succession the operations of excavating or unearthing the pipe line 13 from the floor of the ditch 14 below the ground level 15, elevating the section of pipe over and around which the excavator loosened the earth, and backfilling or returning into the ditch the earth displaced by the excavator and by the elevating of the pipe section. The excavator it] and elevator II are necessarily to be drawn along together by the same tractor, while the drag l2. which can also be utilized as a cradle for handling pipe, need not be connected in the same string with the excavator, but may be drawn either by a separate cable [6 leading from the same tractor or by a separate tractor, as circumstances may indicate.

The excavator l0 comprises two similar triangular plates l1 parallelly spaced at a distance to clear opposite sides of the pipe line I3. At upper and lower points on the rearwardly declining edges of the side plates IT they are spaced and connected by webs l8 and I9, respectively, and another similar web is connected to and between the upper ends of the'forwardly declining edges of said side plates, these edges being bevelled as indicated at 2| for cutting effect.

The major portion of the lower edges 22 of the side plates I! are normally substantially parallel with and slightly above the top of the pipe line I3, so that debris incidental to the excavating can escape and not lodge within the excavator and pack around the pipe. This elevation of the lower edge portions 22 is sufficiently high and long to permit the excavator to ride the pipe line l3 even if the excavator be drawn forwardly somewhat out of line with the pipe line I3. An extreme rear portion 23 of the side plate depends below the lower edge 22 to a depth about equal to the diameter of the pipe line, and connected to and between the lower ends of the portions 23 is a fixed horizontal rear shoe 24, having a forward edge which has a notch 25 with a sufliciently wide aperture to enable the forward edge of the shoe to encounter pipe couplings without injury thereto or to the shoe. The notched edge of the shoe 24 is bevelled downwardly enough to present to the earth a nonresistant forward edge, and not enough to cause the shoe to ride deep into the earth.

Depending portions 26 on the forward extremity of the lower edge of the side plates I? extend downwardly only about half the diameter of the pipe line, and have their horizontal lower edges bevelled to act as cutting runners, as indicated at 21. On about a level with the position of the top of the pipe line I 3 or about half the height of the pipe I3 above the rear shoe 24, the excavator has the forward shoe 28.

The forward shoe 28, shown in detail in Figure 4, comprises a flat heavy plate of generally rectangular form having a notch 29 cut in its forward edge of wide enough aperture to enable the shoe to clear around pipe couplings, and bevelled downwardly as indicated at 30. Headed pivots 3| project laterally from the opposite side edges of the shoe 28 at a distance about one-third back from the forward extremity of the shoe, and turn in holes formed in the side plates ll, the arrangement of the pivots being such that the major portion of the shoe behind the pivots will overbalance the shoe rearwarclly and raise the front end, thereby overcoming any tendency which might otherwise exist for the shoe to ride deep in the earth or jam against or be upset by engagement with a pipe coupling 32 or other obstruction. The pivotal and overbalanced mounting of the forward shoe 28 is such that when the excavator I0 is engaged with a pipeline in normal operation, the forward shoe 28 will more or less constantly ride upon the top of the pipe and thereby be held in best position not only for offering minimum resistance against forward movement but for overcutting the earth immediately above the pipe line, just as the rear shoe 24 which immediately underrides the pipe line undercuts the earth thereunder.

The side plates ll have arcuate slots 33 in the upper forward part thereof whose center of curvature is located in the rear shoe 24, so that pull exerted forwardly in the region of the slots will tend to swing the excavator forwardly and downwardly with the rear shoe as a center, thereby keeping the excavator at that proper angle in which the forward shoe 28 is engaged with the top of the pipe line and the rear shoe 24 is engaged with the bottom of the pipe line [3.

Pairs of draft bars or blades 34 are connected to and on opposite sides of each side plate ll of the excavator ID by means of bolts 35 working in the arcuate slots 33, whose forward edges are provided with vertically spaced notches 33, with which the draft bar bolts 35 are to be selectively engaged in accordance with the depth or thickness of the earthen ditch floor. Instead of being straight the draft bars or blades 34 comprise rear sharply inclined portions 31 and forward less sharply declining portions 38 to the forward ends of which are pivoted the eyes of a clevis 39, to

which the tractor chain or cable 40 is connected.

A weed cutting wheel 4| having a cuttin edge 42 is rotatably mounted just behind the clevis on an axle 43 mounted on and between the draft bars 34. Shaped and arranged in this way the draft bars or blades exhibit less tendency to catch debris and roots. On the outside of the side plates I I, about on a level with the lower end of the arcuate slots 33 .are headed studs 44 with which are connected the forward ends of draft cable or rods 45 for pulling the elevator l l in line behind the excavator [0.

The elevator draft cables or rods 45 are of such lengths that a relatively great length of the pipe line [3 behind the excavator shall have been loosened in the'earth by the excavator, before the elevator l'l begins to elevate the pipe out of the earth, thereby making provision against undesirable upward strain upon and sharp bending of the pipe in elevating the same.

The elevator H comprises an open top semicircular cross section trough 46 of sufficient length to provide substantialsu'pport to the pipe line and a gradual ramp for elevating the pipe out of the loosened earth behind the excavator I to at .alsafe angle.

sidespf the forward end ofthe trough and have draft cables [Gare connected,

member .55, re pectively- "Extrusions fifhrise from the;

outside headed :studs 48 .;at :a level slightly above the-top of the pipe T1i'I1e- 3.,-1f0l connecting the rear/ends :of thedraft :cables or rods 71.5 :tothe Supporting :the trough "46 -.at the dew-- elevator. sired rearward inclination arela'terallyspaced tubular runners :49, which are'gradually reduced toward their forward ends to merge with the underside of the forward end of the trough, with their rearward portions spaced from and connected to thebottom of the trough by webs 50, as indicated in Figures 1 and 6. The forward and slight upward pull exerted by the draft cables or rods 45, due to the location-of the excavator draftstuds 4'4 abovethe elevator'draft studs '48, and the position of the studs 48 slightly above the level of "the pipeline 13, produces stabiliza tion of the elevator runners 49 -in a substan tially parallel position relative to the 'unelevated portion of the pipe line as the elevato is moved forwardly. Between the ends of the trough 46 the side are cut away as indicated at 5| to discharge debris otherwise tending toac! cumulate in the trough and interfere with the smooth elevation of the pipe, and to permit the trough to retain engagement with 'thepipeline when canted with respect'thereto, as when a boulder or other unusual resistance is encounteredwh-ich throws the elevator-sidewise out of llne'- with the pipe.

i'lhe drag l2, shown in Figures '7, 8 and 9, comprises a frame consisting of a longitudinal channel 52 for, receiving and "loosely, cradling the pipeline l3, and several cross members in the formof 'flatgtransversely elongated plates 53, 54

and 55, equally spaced from each other from the front to the rear end of the channel 52 and secured to project equally on opposite sides of the bottom, thereofl The 'eross'mem'bers diminish in width from front to rear, as indicated in Figure 8; The front. cross member 53' has, .two draft studs .56 to which the rear Hinged; to their upper edges atNS'I, 5B and 5.9

tothe outer conformably angulated ends of the crosS members 53, 54 and "55, respectively. are the flat rectangular blade 66, whichare thereby mounted, to depend from the drag frame in rearwardly converging relationship, as shown in Figure 8, with their front and rear ends extending slightly forwardly of the front cross ember 53 and rearwardly of the rear cross The spread of the blades 60 at their forward endsisprovided to gather therebetween the earththrown alon the sides'of the ditch l4 by the excavator if) and.

the rising of the pipeline through the loosened earth, while the approach of'the rear ends of he. blades is gauged to confine the gathered earth to the width of and return itinto the furrow therein created by the displacement of the The hinging of the blades 60 is pro-- pipe line. vided so that their lateralreach can be adju st ed from the minimum defined by the perpendicular positions shown in full lines, in Figures 8 and 9 to the maximum out swung positions indicated in dotted lines in Figure 9.

Adjusting. means for holding the blades 60 in their minimum and maximum, and in intermediate such position, is providedin the form of front andrear angle iron brackets ,6] and 62, respectively, secured to the outer sides of the blades and rising thereabove and above the trough 52 and pivotally connected at their upends of the,

perends tofilin'ks 63 which 'areconnected to front and :rear lugs 64 and 65, respectively, projecting from the sidesofuthe trough and secured to the front and rear cross members =53 and 55, respectively.- "Bolts '66 and 6 1 onthe lugs 64 and-65, respectively, are arranged to be engaged in selected ones of longitudinally spaced b'olt holes 68 in the links 63, whereby the blades 60 can be adjusted into and held in the desired adj ust'ed positions;

In runnin the string for reclaiming and reconditioning the pipe line 13, the draft cables l6 of the'drag 12 maybe :secured to the same concurrentl as a cradle for handling exposed portions of the pipe line, with the aid of a crane or the'like. I

What I claim is:

Apparatus for reclaiming buried pipeline,

comprising an excavator comprising a pair of vertical side plates secured in laterally spaced relation at a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the pipeline to be reclaimed and itscouplings, said side plates being of substantial length so as to extend for a substantial distancealong the pipeline and of substantial height, the forward edges of said side plates declining forward-ly and having cutting bevels thereon, a rear earth cutting shoe positioned between said side plates adjacent to the rear endof said excavator for under-riding the pipeline a front-earth cutting 'shoe positioned between said side plates adjacent to the forward end of said excavator, on a level above said rear shoe foro've'rriding the" pipe line, pivoting means carried by said side plates and front shoe forwardly of the centerof gravity of said front shoe to permit said front shoe to tilt upwardly in contact with the upper side of the pipeline, and draft means connected to the upper part of said excavator adjacent to the forward declining edges of said side plates,"

whereby forward pull upon said draft means operates to move said excavator forwardly through the earth with said rear shoe following the underside of I the pipeline and said front shoe following the upper side of said pipeline.

2. Apparatus for reclaiming buried pipeline, comprising an excavator comprising a pair of vertical side plates secured in laterally spaced relation at a distanceslightly greater than the" diameter of the pipeline to be reclaimed and its couplings, said side platesv being of substantial length and of relatively great heightand having declining forward edges, cutting bevels on the forward edges of said side plates, a rear earth.

cutting shoe positioned between said side plates adjacent to the rear end of said excavator for under-riding the pipeline, a front earth cutting shoe positioned between said side plates adjacent to the forward end ,of said excavator on alevel above saidrear shoe for overriding the pipeline, and draft means, connected to an upper upon said draft means operates to move said.

excavator forwardly through the earth with said rear shoe following the underside of the pipeline andzsaid'front shoe following the upper side of said pipeline-said rear and front shoes each con-- sistingof a generally horizontal flat plate having a': downwardly bevelled forward edge of relatively low vertical profile whereby said "shoes can cut forwardly through the earth without marked tendency to ride deep into'the earth.

'1 3; Apparatus for reclaiming buried pipeline, comprising an excavator comprising a pair of vertical side plates secured in laterally spaced relation at a distance-slightly greater than the diameter of the pipeline to be reclaimed and its couplings, saidside plates being of substantial lengthsoas to extend for a substantial distance along the pipeline, cutting bevels on the forward edge of said side plates, a rear'earth cutting shoe positioned'between said side plates adjacent to the rear end of said excavator for under-riding the pipeline, a'front earth cutting shoe positioned between said side plates adjacent to the forward end of said excavator on a level. above said rear shoe for overriding the pipeline, and draft means connected to an upper forward part of. said excavator, whereby forward pull upon said draft means operates to move said excavator forwardly through the earth with said rear shoe following the underside of the pipeline and said front shoe following the upper side of said pipeline, said front shoe being pivotally flexibly mounted on said excavator whereby said front shoe can maintain floating engagement with the upper side of the pipeline during rises and falls of said excavator during its forward movement. 61. Apparatus for reclaiming buried pipeline, comprising an excavator comprising a pair of vertical side plates secured in laterally spaced relation, at a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the pipeline to bereclaimed and its couplings, said. side plates being of substantial length, so as to extend for a substantial distance along the pipeline, cutting bevels on the forward edges of said side plates, a rear earth cutting shoe positioned between said side plates adja cent to the rear end of said excavator for underriding the pipeline, a front earth cutting shoe positioned between said side plates adjacent to the forward end of said excavator on a level above said rear shoe for overriding the pipeline, and draft means connected to an upper forward part of said excavator, whereby forward pull upon said draft means operates to move said excavator forwardly through the earth with said rear shoe following the underside of the pipeline and said front shoe following the upper side of said pipeline, said rear and front shoes each comprising generally horizontal flat plates having dpwnwardlybevelled forward edges of relatively low vertical profile whereby said shoes can cut forwardly through the earth without marked tendencyto ride deep in theearth, said front shoebeing pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis extending transversely of said excavator with the said axis'located at a forward part of said front shoe whereby said front shoe is overbalanced rearwardly'so that its rear part tends to be maintained in floating engagement with the upper side of the pipeline by gravity and the downward pressure of the earth between the side plates during forward movement of said excavator.

5 Apparatus for reclaiming pipeline buried beneath the ground, comprising an excavator arranged to be drawn forwardly along the pipeline so as to loosen the earth along and above the pipeline, anelevator comprising a substantially semi-cylindrical trough in which the pipeline can slide lengthwise, a-pair of laterally spaced run ners, meansconnecting said runners to oppositesides of the underside of said trough whereby said trough has'agradual rearward inclinationwith respect to said'runners, at an insufficiently sharp angle 'to subject the pipeline to excessive bending and upward pressure, vertical projections at the forward ends of the sides of said trough, draft connections on said projections at levels above the top of the trough whereby forward pulls of draftmeans on said draft connections tends to tilt said elevator forwardlyso as: to maintain said trough in engagement with the underside of the pipeline for elevating the same.-

6. Apparatus for reclaiming pipeline buried beneath the ground, comprising an excavatorarranged to be drawn forwardly along the pipeline so as to loosen the earth along and above the pipeline, an elevator comprising a substantially semi-cylindrical trough in which the pipeline can slide lengthwise, a pairof laterally spaced runners, means connecting said runners to opposite sides of the underside of said trough; whereby said trough has a gradual rearward inclination with respect to said runners, at an,

insufiicientlysharp angle to subject the pipeline to excessive bending and upward pressure, vertical projections at the forward ends of the sides of said trough, draft connections on said projec-- tions at levels above the top of the trough whereby forward pulls of draft means on said draft connections tends to tilt said elevator forwardly so as to maintain saidtrough in engagement with the; undersideof the pipeline for elevating the,

same, the sides of said trough between forwardand rearward portions thereof being cut away: for a sufficient distance'to permit said trough to retain engagement with the pipeline even when said elevator moves forwardly at a lateral angle.

to the axis of the pipeline.

7.,Apparatusffor reclaiming buried pipeline,

comprising? an excavatorcomprising a pair of for under-riding the pipeline, a front earth cutting shoe positioned between said side plates adjacent to their. forward ends on a level above, said rear shoe, said front shoe having a down-. wardly bevelled forward cutting edge, and draft means connected to upperrforward portions of said side plates, wherebyforward pullupon said draft means operates to move said excavator forwardly through the earth so as to cut and loosen the earth above and at the sides of the pipeline and loosen the same while causing said rear shoe to follow the underside of the pipe line and said front shoe to followthe upper side of said pipeline.

8. Apparatus for reclaiming buried pipeline;

comprising an excavator comprising a pair of vertical side plates secured in laterally spaced relation at a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the pipeline to be reclaimed and its couplings, said side plates being of relatively,

great height and having declining forward edges, cutting bevels on the forward edges of .said side plates, a rear earth cutting shoe positioned be tween said side plates adjacent to the rear end;

thereof for underrriding the pipeline, front earth cutting shoe positioned between said side plates adjacent to the forward end of said excavator on a level above said rear shoe for'overriding the pipeline, and draft means connected to anupper forward part of said excavator, whereby forward pull-upon said draft means operates to move said excavator forwardly through the earth with said rear shoe following the underside of the pipeline and said front shoe following the upper side of ,said pipeline, the p lower edges of said side plates between said front and rear shoes being cut away to a bevel above said front and rear shoes whereby the excavator can maintain engagement with the pipeline even when said excavator is moved forwardly at a lateral angle to the axis of the pipeline.

9. Apparatus for reclaiming buried pipeline, 4 comprising an excavator comprising a pair of vertical side plates secured in;laterally spaced rela-- tion at a distance slightly greater than the diami eter of the pipeline to be reclaimed and its couplings, said side plates being of substantial length so as to extend for a substantial distance along the pipeline, cutting bevels on the forward edges of said side plates, a rear earth cutting shoe positioned between said side plates adjacent to the rear end of said excavator for under-riding the pipeline, a front earth cutting shoe positioned between said side plates adjacent to the forward end of said excavator on a level above said rear shoe for overriding the pipeline, and draft means upper forward part of said excavator, whereby forward pull upon said draft means operates to move said excavator forwardly through the earth with said rear shoe following the underside of the pipeline and said front shoe following the upper side of saidpipelina-said earth cutting blades comprising pairs of forwardly projecting bars having a clevis connected to and between their forward ends, said bars being upwardly angulated between their ends and formed on their forwardly facing edges with earth cutting bevels, the rear ends of said bars having pivot means selectively engageable with notches formed along the length of arcuate slots formed in said side plates with their centers of curvature located in said rear shoe, whereby said pivot REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,910,481 Smith May 23,1933 2,386,615 Knapp Oct. 9, 1945 2,396,849 Herbert Mar. 19, 1946 

